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Māori Creation Myths

There are many variations in Maori myths from iwi to iwi (and probably hapu to hapu) and any serious study would doubtless be considerate of the affect of Christianiaty on such traditions. Nevertheless, as it stands, there are some themes in the creation myths that are at least commonly accepted as having indigenous origin while their correlation with Hebrew traditions will not escape the qabalist.

In the beginning, there was only darkness, Te Po, the night, from which sprung Te Ao Marama, the world of light. Within the world of darkness, the sky father, Ranginui was suspended in a perpetual state of love being conjoined with Papatūānuku, the earth mother.

In the space between them, Papatuanuku and Ranginui give birth to seven children. The children conspire to separate their parents so that light may flow into their world. It is commonly told that is is the tall, strong Tāne that succeeds in pushing the sky from his mother by standing on his head and thrusting his feet upwards. The movement from darkness to the world of light is achieved in the separation of the parents by their children.

When being welcomed onto a marae, the ceremony or pōwhiri, has its basis in the Māori creation stories. Newcomers are guided from darkness, Te Pō, onto the marae, Te Ao, the state of lightness and resolution. Light is represented by the meeting house itself where the welcomed guests gather. The roof represents Ranginui (the sky) and the floor represents Papatūānuku (the earth). The posts of the house represent those that Tāne used to separate earth and sky, and the carving above the doorway represents Hine, the custodian of the threshold between night and day, darkness and light.